SWNT-Based Supramolecular Nanoarchitectures with Photosensitizing Donor and Acceptor Molecules

Single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT)-based supramolecular nanoarchitectures constructed using photosensitizing donor and acceptor molecules reveal efficient photoinduced charge separation, thus carrying out the role,of functional materials desired for light-energy-harvesting photovoltaic cells and development of novel photocatalysts. Various self-assembly strategies based on the SWNT-pyrene pi-pi interaction are developed in a search for double-decker SWNT-based nanohybrids revealing better photochemical, photovoltaic, and photocatalytic properties. In the presence of electron-donor sensitizers such as porphyrins, charge separation is initiated from the donor to SWNT, whereas in the presence of electron acceptors such as fullerenes, the SWNT donates an electron to the photoexcited fullerene acceptor under visible light irradiation. For both cases, in the presence of electron mediators and sacrificial electron donors, these SWNT molecular nanohybrids undergo photocatalytic reaction. It has also been possible to demonstrate the band-gap-dependent charge separation efficiencies and photovoltaic currents by utilizing the size selective semiconducting SWNTs.